see also: in August 2008:   CBP in New York Apprehends Suspected Interpol Fugitive   Louisville CBP Finds Heroin in Woman’s Suit   CBP Officers Nab More than $1 Million in Narcotics in 48-hour Period   Philadelphia CBP Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks   CBP on a Roll Seizing Fake Handbags, Footwear Again in California   Calexico Downtown Port Officers Intercept $100K Narcotic Smuggling Attempt   CBP Outbound Inspection Yields 293 Unreported Ostrich Skins ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Newark, N.J. – Officials of three federal agencies working on a enforcement initiative in New Jersey today announced the seizure of more than a ton of pseudoephedrine, essential to the production of methamphetamine.

Gerard P. McAleer, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey Division; Adele Fasano, area director for Customs Border Protection; and Kyle Hutchins, special agent in charge of Immigration & Customs Enforcement announced the seizure of a July 31 shipment to the Port of Newark. The seizure was the result of the agencies’ New Jersey MetroPort Initiative.

In March 2008, DEA New Jersey Division, in collaboration with CBP and ICE, commenced the MetroPort program in the Port of Newark to prevent List I chemicals or other contraband from being imported into or through the United States.

The shipping container, whose manifest did not identify the nearly one ton of pseudoephedrine, was identified by analysts and investigators from the initiative. The shipment was detained at the port, tested and subsequently seized by CBP and turned over to DEA. The container was shipped by a company in India and was destined for Central America after transiting through the Port of Newark.

The chemical was believed to be destined for Mexico after passing through Honduras and Guatemala. Once in the hands of a drug trafficking organization, the pseudoephedrine could be used to produce the equivalent amount of methamphetamine.

DEA’s McAleer said, “This international shell game has high stakes. We will tirelessly search the world with our domestic and international partners to find the shell that contains the nut. We will prevent these rogue companies from supplying these dangerous chemicals to drug traffickers.”

“The combined enforcement efforts of Customs and Border Protection, DEA, and ICE, as part of the Metroport Initiative, have prevented the movement of an unlicensed and illegal shipment of pseudoephedrine,” said CBP Fasano. “The seizure of this precursor chemical is an important step in stopping the illegal production of methamphetamine destined for the United States.”

“The movement of illegal drugs through our seaports and ports of entry will not be tolerated and we will use all our investigative resources to stop this type of activity, regardless of whether it is carried out by air, land or sea,” said ICE’s Hutchins.

To date, no arrests have been made and the investigation continues.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.